The effects of this violence are far reaching and intergenerational, according to Antoinette Edwards. Edwards is the director of the office of Youth Violence Prevention at the city of Portland and directs the Gang Enforcement Task Force, which includes law enforcement. We spoke with her after a recent weekend effort by police officers to “cool down” the activity. Edwards says the factors contributing to gun violence are complex, and so too are the solutions. In our conversation earlier this month, she mentioned a program called 11:45, among others, designed to interrupt the cycle of gang violence. The program involves mentorship and other support for youth who are in the criminal justice system but who have not become too deeply involved with gangs.

We begin an occasional series looking at different responses to prevent gang violence around the state with an exploration of this Portland program.